Hawthorne Elementary School: Relocated to Orchard Homes Country Life Club, 2537 S. Third St. W.

The changes, which are in effect for the upcoming election only, will impact roughly 7,735 voters. Polls will be open during the usual hours, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Missoula County Election Administrator Dayna Causby said the relocations will create a few challenges, but voters have options.

“Missoula County voters always have the opportunity to vote via the mail,” Causby said. “Voters can request a mail ballot up until the day before the election.”

The Elections Office will mail fliers to voters in affected precincts who have not opted to vote by mail. The fliers will include maps of the relocated polling places, as well as a pre-filled, postage-paid form allowing voters to sign up to have their ballots mailed to them if voting at the alternate location is not convenient. Voters will simply need to sign and mail back the form.

All registered voters can fill out an online form to receive an absentee ballot in the mail through Tuesday, Oct. 9. After that date, voters will need to request an absentee ballot in person at the Elections Office, currently located in Building 15 of the Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. The office is currently open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended and weekend hours planned for October.

With renovation construction beginning at the fairgrounds, the Elections Office urges voters to take care of any election-related needs as soon as possible to alleviate crowding at the facility in the days leading up to the election. In addition to requesting absentee ballots, Elections Office staff can help with all voter services, including voter registration, address changes, retrieving undeliverable ballots and issuing replacement ballots.

Aspiring voters also can register at the Missoula County Elections Office, currently located in Building 15 at the Missoula Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. The office is currently open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Starting Monday, Oct. 29, weekday hours will extend to 6 p.m., and the office also will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 3.

“Missoula County has around 10,000 residents who are eligible to vote but who aren’t registered,” said Elections Administrator Dayna Causby. “Whether that’s because they recently moved here, turned 18 or for another reason, we want to make it as easy as possible for them to register and cast a ballot.”

Due to Fairgrounds construction, vehicles will need to use the west entrance on South Avenue, near the intersection with Oxford Street. The Elections Office urges voters to take care of any election-related needs as soon as possible to alleviate crowding at the facility leading up to Election Day. In addition to voter registration, Elections Office staff can help with all voter services, including signing up for an absentee ballot, address changes, retrieving undeliverable ballots and issuing replacement ballots.